Fluid control system



Sept. 4, 1951 K. B, BRITTON 2,566,873

FLUID CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 31, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZWVEWZQF A4121. 6. 62/ rro/v.

Sept. 4, 1951 K. B. BRITTON FLUID CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 51, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 river: 572- 1/424 8; 52/770.

Sept. 4, 1 51 K. B. BRITTON 2,566,873

FLUID CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 31, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 PsS PmN Q {5 Q) 9 Q? Q) Q? WYEnZET L024 19. Be/rro/v,

P 1951 K. B. BRITTON 2,566,873

FLUID CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 51-, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZHVEIYZEF 159491. 8. Ben-r0.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 FLUID CONTROL SYSTEM Karl B. Britton, Bratenahl, Ohio, assignor to Thompson lroducts, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application March 31 1944, Serial No. 528,856

The present invention relates to a fluid control system. More particularly, the present invention provides a control means which may be selectively adjusted to provide the interconnection of a plurality of fluid supply sources with a number of fluid operated devices.

The invention additionally provides a means which indicates at a glance the exactoperating relationship of each of the elements in a fluid control system. Moreover, a series of signalling devices may advantageously be applied to the.

control means of the invention to designate at once any part or parts which are not functioning properly due to the failure of elements in the system.

The control means of the present invention and its associated parts are particularly advantageously adapted to the control and manipulation of the fuel system for an airplane or the like. According to the present invention, means are provided by which a plurality of fuel tanks may be connected with the airplane engines in such a way that each engine will be fed with fuel from each single tank as well as from any one or more of the other tanks. In addition, certain of the engines and tanks may be cut off entirely or all of the tanks and engines may be cut off.

One of the outstanding features of the invention is the provision of a complete flow diagram on an operators panel which will show to any crew member the exact disposition of every element of the system at any given time. This factor is of great importance in the operation of both commercial and military planes and enables the operator to control the system from the diagram.

The appearance of a signal in the flow diagram or on the panel of the control unit coincident with the faulty operation of any element in the system is also highly advantageous in the operation of commercial and military ships. Thus, any member of the crew, whether it be the individual responsible forthe operation of the several controls or one totally unfamiliar therewith, can instantly detect the failure or faulty operation of any one or more of the elements of the fuel system and restore the operation of at least part of the system through the manipulation of the-controls to provide another operating relationship of the elements.

The importance of these features is emphasized in military planes, particularly those engaged in 13 Claims. (Cl. 158-36) In such circumstances, the ability to keep at least certain, if, not all, of the engines operating and supplied with fuel by a timely and quickly executed change in the inter-relationship of the several elements of the system is important in keeping the ship aloft and enabling it to return to its base.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fluid control system which combines all of the aforementioned features and advantages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid control system which possesses a maximum degree of flexibility in the operation and choice of the fluid supplies and the fluid operated devices when all of the connecting conduits are intact and an. ample fluid supply is provided.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a fluid control system which possesses a maximum degree of flexibility in the operation and choice of fluid supplies and fluid operated devices when one or more of the connecting conduits is faulty in its operation or broken or when one or more of the supplies is exhausted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel line arrangement for multi-engine, multiple fuel tank vehicles wherein the least number of valves produce the desired selection of possible fuel paths between tanks and engines.

A still further object is to provide a multi-tank, multi-engine fuel system having the least possible number of vulnerability points so that engine failures due to destruction of fuel lines will be minimized.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid control system which will insure the complete inter-relation of the several fluid supplies and fluid operated devices with a minimum amount of interconnecting conduits and a minimum number of fluid flow control devices in the system.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a panel or other suitable indicating means upon which the exact interrelationship of the several elements of the fluid control system is clearly and immediately discernible by the operator.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in combination with a panel or indicating means on which the outline of the flow diagram of the several elements of the fluid control system is provided, a system of signalling devices which instantly indicates when any one or more parts of the system is not functioning properly.

It will be readily understood that the fluid con-' trol system of the present invention is adapted to be employed with any form of fluid supply and fluid operated devices which may be interconnected to control the operation thereof. Therefore, the adaptation of the fluid control system of the present invention to the control of the fuel supply for the operation of a multi-engine airplane represents only one of many possible applications of the teaching of the present invention. This adaptation is employed solely for the purpose of simplification and in no sense of limitation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent as the following description of one of the typical applications of the principles of the present invention proceeds.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a fuel supply system for an airplane including four fuel tanks together with four en- .g-ines and the associated elements of the system which embody the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-Section with parts in elevation taken along the line 11-11 in Figure 1 and illustrating one form of manually operable control means therefor;

Figure 3 is a plan of the cam disks employed in the control means of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation with parts in section and broken away illustrating one form of mechanism for operating the fluid flow control devices employed in controlling the flow of fuel from the supply tanks to the engines in the system in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line V-V in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 4 with parts omitted in the interest of clarity;

Figure 7 is a plan of the several cam disks employed in the operation of the control mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation to show the operation of one form of fluid flow control device which embodies the interconnection of two multi-position selector cocks to provide twelve operating positions;

Figure 9 is a chart which illustrates each one of the several operating positions obtainable by the device of Figure 8 and indicating the setting of the plug member of each of the devices for obtaining the desired position; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical wiring circuit incorporating the control means of Figures 2 and 6 in operating one of the fluid flow control devices of the fluid control system illustrated in Figure 1.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 of the drawings, four fuel tanks l5, l8, l1 and I8 are illustrated as supplying fuel to a corresponding number of engines 19, 20, 2|

and 22. A plurality of flow control devices such, for example, as four selector cocks 23, 24, 25 and 28 are interposed betweenthe several fuel tanks to 18, inclusive, and the engiines l9 and 22, inclusive, for the control of the flow of fuel to the engines from the several tanks. Each of the selector cocks 23 to 26. inclusive, are preferably of the muliti-position type which will thus provide for the interconnection of each of the sev- 4 eral tanks it to 18, inclusive, individually with each of the several engines 18 to 22, inclusive, or any combination of the several elements.

Conduits 21, 28, 29 and 30 are adapted to connect the respective fuel tanks i6, i8. i1 and I8 with selector cocks 23, 24, 25 and 28, respectively. Similar conduits 3 i 32, 33 and 34 serve to provide a connection between the several selector cocks 23 to 26, inclusive, and their respective engines l9 to 22, inclusive. Conduits 35, 38 and 31 provide cross-connections between the several selector cocks 23 to 28, inclusive.

Associated with the fuel tanks 15 to 18, inclusive, are booster pumps 38 to 4|, respectively, which are adapted to exert pressure on the gasoline fed through the several conduits 21, 28, 23 and 30, respectively, for the purpose of preventing vapor lock or other similar difficulties which frequently occur in the fuel systems of airplanes operating at relatively high altitudes. The pressure on the gasoline afforded by the booster pumps 38 to 4|, inclusive, is transmitted uniformly throughout the entire system by each of the several conduits 21, 28, 28 and 30 as well as through any of the individual conduits 3| to 31, inclusive, which may be interconnected by the operation of'the selector cocks 23 to 28, inclusive, in the operation of the control system. Fuel pumps 42, 43, 44 and 45 are provided for the engines I9, 20, 2| and 22, respectively. The booster pumps 38 to 4| are preferably driven each by its own electric motor while the fuel pumps 42 to 46 are each driven by the engines l3 to 22 on.

which it is mounted.

The booster pumps 88 to 4|, inclusive, may be omitted from the system without adversely affecting its operation in other respects.

A panel 41 which may advantageously take the form of that shown in Figure 1 is capable of being employed with the fluid control system of the present invention. The panel 41 may be an embossed metal or synthetic plastic plate and may be mounted on the instrument panel of the airplane or in any other convenient part of the fuse.- lage which will be both visible and accessible to the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer or other crew member whose duty it may be to operate such controls.

At each of the four positions on the panel 41 corresponding in number to the engines and tanks employed in the system is disposed a pilot switch or monitoring means 48 generally of the type illustrated in Figure 2. The monitoring means 48, which will be described by way of example, is actually the unit shown at the extreme left-hand position in Figure l and is adapted to provide manual adjustment for controlling the operation of an automatically operated secondary control or actuating means 43 of the type shown in Figure 4. The monitoring means 48 and its actuating means 43 may be interconnected as by means of any suitable form of power transmission system whether it be hydraulic, pneumatic or an electrical circuit of the type diagrammatically represented in Figure 10 to operate the multi-position selector cock 23 with which it is associated.

It will be understood that units embodying elements which are generally similar to the moni- 5 son of the greater number of positions required in view of the cross-connections therebetween,

may be constructed as one large unit or may 'ad vantageomly embody a plurality of individual smaller selector cocks connected together in suitable operating relation.

Bach monitoring means associated with the panel ll is manually adjustable by its control knob II, II, I! or u. Disks I4, I, I6 and I1 are mounted for rotation with the knobs 89, Ii, 82 and II, respectively. The several disks N to 51 inclusive, are preferably thin plates or the like provided with a pattern or diagram on the outer face thereof which correspondsgenerally to the arrangement of the ports in the plug member of the selector cock which is controlled by the knob.

The panel 01 is provided with an outline or pattern embossed or otherwise applied to its outer face which indicates the general arrangement of the ports in the casings of the several selector cocks and the conduits in the system with which they connect. Thus, the channel outlines of conduits 21a to 31a, inclusive, which extend radially from the several knobs I to 53, inclusive, conform generally to the arrangement of the correspondingly numbered conduits 21 to 31. inclusive, in the system. By-pass connections is and I. into the channels 21a and "a, respectively, are outlined on the panel 41 for the units at the extreme left and right-hand ends of the panel to facilitate certain operating arrangements which may be desired for these units.

For the arrangement of the fuel tanks l to la, inclusive, and the engines I! to 22, inclusive, shown, the selector cocks 23 and 26 will advantageously be of the type providing five operating positions of which four are "on positions and one is an off position. Eachof these positions is identified on the panel 41 adjacent the respective units by the numerals l to, inclusive, disposed about the outer periphery of the disks. An arrow formed on each of the knobs and 63 when manually rotated to a position opposite each of said numerals, in turn, will cause the actuating means interconnected, with the monitoring means operated by said knobs to shift the plug member of the associated selector cocks to provide any selected one of the operating positions thereof. At the same time, the rotation of the knobs 50 and 53 will turn the respective disks I4 and 51 to position each port outline thereon so as to register with each of the channel outlines on the panel 41 corresponding to each of the possible operating positions of their respective selector cocks 23 and 26.

As shown in Figure 1, the arrows on the knobs I. and 3 are disposed adjacent the numeral i in each case on the panel 41 so that the selector cocks 23 and 28 associated therewith will, therefore, be 'in their first operating positions in which each port is operatively connected with one of the several conduits extending therefrom to the associated fuel tank and engine as well as to the adjacent one of the selector cocks 24 and 25. This relationship will be at once apparent from an inspection of that portion of the flow diagram associated with each of the aforementioned operating elements. It will be noted also that the numerals on the panel 41 associated with the disk J4 and knob 50 progress in a counter-clockwise direction while those associated with the disk 51 and knob 53 progress in a clockwise direction. Irrespective of this arrangement of the numerals indicating the several positions of the units, the knobs II and 53 may be rotated in either direction when they are being manipulated without in any way affecting the operation of the apparatus.

The monitoring means ll, to which reference has previously been made, may be of any suitable form but is preferably of the type illustrated in Figure 2. This monitoring means 4! is provided with a generally cylindric'ally shaped shield or casing ill [secured in any suitable fashion to the back of the panel 41. The casing has a pair of spaced end walls GI and 62 in which a shaft 83 is rotatably mounted for manual control by the knob l0.

That portion of the shaft 83 extending between the walls BI and 82 has a plurality of cam disks .4 to SI, inclusive, suitably secured and keyed thereto for rotation therewith. Each of the cams N to 88, inclusive, has associated therewith one of a group of transfer switches 69 to", inclusive, each of which is provided with one of the shiftable nibs 14 to 18, inclusive. The several nibs ll to 18, inclusive, are maintained in contact with the peripheral surface of their respective cams 64 to 68, inclusive, by virtue of their being mounted in staggered relation on diametrically opposed sides of the shaft 63 in such fashion that as the shaft is rotated one of the nibs will register with one of the notches 19 to 83, inclusive, on their respective cams 6} to 68, inclusive (see Figure 3).

In this way, each of the several switches 69 to 13, inclusive, is held in open position until its nib registers with the corresponding notch in the cam disk associated therewith. The registration of the nib on one of said switches with the notch in its associated cam causes the switch to be closed by virtue of the engaging of the contacts upon the shifting of the nib to its extended position. The arrangement of the cam disks 6! totfl, inclusive, on the shaft 63 of the monitoring means 48 is such that each of the notches 18 to 83, inclusive, on said cams will register with that one of the nibs H to 18, inclusive, on its associated one of the switches 69 to 13, inclusive, in turn as the knob 50 is positioned with the arrow thereon directed toward each of the digits designating one of the operating positions in the flow diagram of the panel 41.

The manual adjustment of the knob 50 on the panel 41 will, therefore, serve to adjust one of the transfer switches 69 to 13, inclusive, through the action of the cams. 64 to 62!, inclusive, for selectively operating the actuating means 49 of Figure 4 of the drawings through a suitable wiring circuit to shift the selector cock 23 to one, of its operating positions. The actuating means 49 includes a vertical shaft a which is securekl to the stem portion of the plug member for the selector cock 23 as by means of a socket 8 i a in which an end of the shaft is secured as by 'means {of a pin 82a. A housing 83a of substantially cylindrical shape is disposed about and in concentric relation with respect to the axis of the vertical shaft "a being secured to the mounting flange of the selector cook 23 as by the bolts 84.

The housing 83a has a flanged plate 85 disposed at its uppermost end and adapted to receive the vertical shaft 80a therethrough so as to be rotatably supported in a suitahie boss or the like formed on the underside of the plate. The flanged plate 85 cooperates with a base plate it to support therebetween in staggered relation on diametrically opposite sides of the vertical shaft Ilia a plurality of transfer switches 81 to St, inelusive, which correspond to the transfer switches 60 to 13, inclusive, of the monitoring means ll.

One of a plurality of cam disks 92 to 99, inclusive. secured and keyed in driving relation to the vertical shaft 89a is provided for operating each of the transfer switches 81 to 9I, inclusive. As in the case of the monitoring means 48 the several cams 92' to 88, inclusive, are adapted to contact with their peripheral edges the nibs 91 to I I inclusive, of the respective transfer switches 81 to II, inclusive.

In the case of the transfer switches 81 to 9i, inclusive, associated with the actuating means 48, the contacts of the switches are normally closed as opposed to the normally opened position of the switches 89 to I9, inclusive. of the monitoring means 48. One of the switches 81 to 9I, inelusive, of the actuating means 49 will, however, be shifted to open position upon registration of one of the several respective nibs 91 to IOI, in-

. clusive, of said switches with one oi the notches I02 to I08, inclusive, of the respective cam disks 92 to 99, inclusive.

The rotation of the vertical shaft 80a which actuates the plug member of the selector cock The pawl I09 in engagement with one of the teeth IIO of the ratchet wheel I08 causes said ratchet wheel to rotate as the extension H4 is shifted toward the right thereby moving the arm II2 about the vertical shaft 80a as the solenoid I I8 is energized. Upon the deenergization of the solenoid I I 9, the extension I I4 is released and the spring II8 swings the arm III back toward the left as seen in Figure against the stop I I3. The

22 is accomplished by a stepping motor or ratchet drive which incorporates a ratchet wheel I08 secured and keyed to the vertical shaft 80a being actuated by the pawl member I09 (Figure 5) which engages one of the several teeth I I0 formed on the periphery of the ratchet wheel I08. The ratchet wheel I08 drives the vertical shaft 80a through a small arcuate path corresponding to the central angle subtended by eachof the teeth I III. The pawl I09 is mounted so as to pivot about a pin III secured to a swingable lever arm II2 freely swingably mounted about the vertical shaft 89a. The arm III is adapted to be rotated about the shaft 880 by the extension II4 within certain restricted limits defined by a suitable stop I I9 and the retracted position of the core of a solenoid I II to which said extension I I4 is secured.

The solenoid H8 is mounted as by means of a pair of brackets III and I II on the outer wall of the housing 83a so that the extension II4 pro- Jects through an aperture therein to operatively connect with the arm H2. The extension II4 on the core of the solenoid H8 is adapted upon the energization of said solenoid to swing the arm I I2 about the axis of the vertical shaft 80a or toward the right as seen in Figure 5 against the restrain ing action of a spring II8, one end of which is secured to the arm H2 and the other end of which is fixed to the wall of the housing 83a as by means of a mounting I I9. A cam member I20 is swingably mounted about the vertical shaft 89a and is adapted to be moved through an armate path by contact of the pin I I I mounted upon the arm II2 which extends upwardly therefrom and contacts one or the other of the fingers I2I or I22 of the forked portion I29 of said cam member. I

This operation of swinging the cam member I20 through a limited arc serves to actuate a transfer switch I24 mounted upon the underside of the base plate 94 in the housing 89a. The nib I28 of the transfer switch I24 is shifted between open and closed position of the contacts thereof by intermittent engagement and disengagement with the notch I28 and the annular periphery of the cam member I20. The making and breaking of the electrical circuit extending through the transfer switch I24, an operation which will be clarified by an inspection of Figure 6 of the drawings, causes an intermittent energizing and deenergizing of the solenoid I I8.

pawl I09 is maintained in contact with the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel I04 as by means of the compression spring I2I which serves to urge it constantly into each successive serration on the wheel as the spring II8 retracts the assembly after the extension II4 of the core of the solenoid II! is released.

The operation of the monitoring means 48 and the actuating means 49 will be best understood by reference to a typical wiring diagram such as that illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. In order to simplify the wiring diagram the several cam disks 64 to 68, inclusive, of the monitoring means 48 have been represented by a single cam disk C provided with a suitable notch X in the peripheral surface thereof. The several cam disks 92 to 98, inclusive, of the actuating means 49 have likewise been indicated on the wiring diagram of Figure 10 as being a single cam disk D having a notch Y in the periphery thereof. In this way, the several transfer switches 99 to I9, inclusive, of the monitoring means 48 as well as the similar switches 81 to 9I, inclusive, of the actuating means 49 may be disposed in a single plane about the periphery of the respective disks C and D.

As previously indicated, the several switches 89 to I9, inclusive, of the monitoring means 49 are normally open with the exception of any single one of the switches which may at the proper time be selectively operated by registration with the notch X to close an electrical circuit through that switch. The several switches 81 to 9I, inclusive, of the actuating means, on the other hand, are, as we have seen, ordinarily closed with the possible exception of the single switch of the group with the nib of which the notch Y on the cam disk D is in registration at such time as the.

actuating means has shifted the vertical shaft and, therefore, the plug member of the selector cock to the selected position chosen by the operator in the selective operation of the monitoring means49.

To afford a better understanding of the operation of the control system of the present invention, let us assume that it is desired to retain the position of the several knobs ii, 82 and 89 on the control panel 41 in their illustrated relation in Figure 1 but that it is now, for some reason, desirable to shift the knob to position 2 thereby cutting of! the fuel tank I9 and the engine I9 from the fuel supply system. The knob 80 will, therefore, be shifted in a counter-clockwise direc tion until the arrow thereon is directed toward the digit 2 on the control panel 41.

The shifting of the knob 50 in a counter-clockwise direction corresponds to shifting the cam disk C in Figure 10 or rotating the shaft 99 of the monitoring means 48 until the notch X on the cam C registers with the nib II for the transfer switch I0. From Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that this shifting of the cam disk C in Figure 10 corresponds to shifting the cam disk 85 on the shaft 69 until the notch 80 thereof registers with the nib 15 for its associated switch I0. The switch 89 immediately upon the shifting of the cam disk C is again opened and the switch I0 which was previously opened will now be closed while the other switches in the unit remain in their previously established opened positions.

' The closing of the switch 10 immediately completes a power circuit from any suitable power supply such, for example, as the battery I30 through theconductor I3I to one side of the switch 10 and from the other side thereof through a conductor I32 to one side of the switch 83 on the actuating means l3 III is in series, thence and I from the other side thereof to one side of the switch I2l. The switch I2l will be closed, as indicated in Figure 10, for the reason that the cam member I20 will be in the position illustrated due to the fact that the solenoid H5 is deenergized and the notch I20 on said cam member will be out of registration with the nib I25.

Thus, the circuit from the switch 88 of the actuating means l3 is completed through the switch I2l energizing the coil of the relay I38 to close the contact between its contact arm I31 and the fixed contact I38 thereby completing a circuit from the battery I30 through the conductor I33, arm I31, contact I38 and conductor M to the coil of the solenoid II5, energizing the same and shifting the extension IN to the right as seen in Figure 5. This shiftable movement of the extension I causes the pawl I03 which engages one of the teeth IIO of the ratchet wheel I08 to rotate the latter as the arm II2 on which it is pivotally mounted is moved toward the right by the extension I against the spring II8. As the extension IIl approaches the extremity of its stroke, the pin III previously disposed adjacent the finger I2I of the forked portion I23 of the cam member I20 will now engage the finger I22 thereof rotating the cam member I20 sufliciently to permit the notch I20 therein to register with the nib I25 of the switch I2l, opening said switch and breaking the circuit from the switch 88 of the actuating means 49 to the relay 135 so as to break contact between the arm I31 and the contact I38 thereof. This operation deenergizes the solenoid H and releases the extension I thereof.

The spring II8, upon the release of theextension IIl draws the lever arm I I2 back against the stop H3 and positions the pawl I09 in contact with the next tooth H0 on the ratchet I08 in preparation for the subsequent energization of the solenoid II5. When the extension Ill is released-upon the deenergization of the solenoid II5, the pin III strikes the prong I2I of the forked portion I23 of the cam member I20. This action of the pin III causes the notch I26 of the cam member I to be shifted out of registration with the nib I of the switch I2l thereby causing the switch to be closed and completing the circuit from the conductor I34 through the switch I2l and the conductor I35 to the coil of the relay I35 so as to repeat the series of operations above described. The intermittent action of the pawl I09 driving the ratchet wheel I08 and the vertical shaft 80a is continued in this manner until the cam associated with theswitch 88 of the'actuating means l8 is rotated through anarc sufficient to bring-the notch therein into registration with the nib- 38 of said switch. In the actuatin meansthe cam 93 bearing a notch I03 is the cam which is associated with the switch 88. As seen in Figure 10, however, the corresponding cam disk D. will now be positioned with its notch with which said switch through conductors I33 Y in' registration with the nib 88 of the switch 88 when the selector-cock 23 has been rotated to the desiredposition as determined by the position of the monitoring means l8 manually selected by the operator. i

It will be understood that exactly the same series of operations are performed and similar circuits are created with the positioning of any one of the cam disks associated with the monitoring means 48 in contact with its cooperating transfer switch. Each of the individual circuits will be clear from an inspection of Figure 10 of the drawings. It should be noted that, while the knob 50 of the monitoring means may be rotated in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, this will not affect theoperationof the actuating means l9 inasmuch as the vertical shaft 80a will'always'be rotated in a clockwise direction by virtue of the cooperative driving relation between the p:.wl I09 and the ratchet wheel I08 which is secured to. and rotates the vertical shaft 80a. 4 1

An identical monitoring means 38 and actuating means 49 is adapted-to be employed in the operation of the selector cock 26 of the fuel sys' tem illustrated in Figure '1. Monitoring means and actuating means of substantially similar construction and operation may be employed in the actuation of the twelve-position units 24 and 25 in the system.

In order to obtain all of thenecessary operating combinations of the several elements of the fluid 'control system, it is necessary that the selector units 24 and 25 be adapted to provide twelve operating positions of which eleven are on positions while one is an off position. It will be understood that these requirements may be fulfilled by the use of a twelve position selector cock. Such a unit is, however, exceedingly large and awkward to handle and will obviously only be able to be employed in systems which require single units capable of affording twelve operating positions.

As an alternative, it may be found desirable to connect together two multi-positioned selector. cocks in the manner illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 8 in such fashion that, with the independent operation of each of the plug members associated with each selector cock unit, twelve different operating positions for this unit may be achieved. Thus, a dual unit of this type may be employed for the selector cock units 2l and 25 in the fluid control system of Figure 1.

The diagrammatic re resentation of Figure 8, it will be understood, is employed solely to indi'-' cate the manner in which two standard five poshtion selector cocks may be manipulated and does not represent a true cross-section of a multiple position dual unit. The maximum combination of the several operatingpositions of each individual selector cock forming the dual unit is outlined in the chartof Figure 9. Each of the twelve flow positions correspond to the setting of the knobs 5I or 52 with the arrows thereon in registration with the associated digit on the panel l1 and the flow pattern provided by the unit is indicated at the top of each box in the chart while the actual disposition of each individual selector cock plug member cooperating to produce the desired flow position is shown adjacent the bottom of each -boxindahe chart.

Thus, in the diagrammatic illustration of Figure 8, if each inner rotatable member A and B is disposed with the arrow associated therewith directed toward the numeral 1 identifying the the port outline on the disk II, for example, co- I operating with the channel outlines "a, 32a, Ila and a. which indicate that the correspondingly numbered conduits are interconnected through the selector cock unit 24. An identical arrangement is found in respect of selector cock unit 2! which will be actuated in such a way as to interconnect therethrough the several conduit ll, 33, I. and 37.

Referring again to Figures 8 and 9, it will be understood that if, by way of example, flow position 1 is required for the dual unit, the rotatable member A must be positioned with its arrow opposite the digit 4 and the rotatable member B with its arrow opposite the digit 1 as indicated in the chart. This arrangement of the elements of the dual unitwould result by positioning the arrow on either of the knobs Si or 52 directed toward the digit 1 on the control panel ti. Each flow position on the chart of Figure 9, therefore, corresponds to the correspondingly numbered position for the knobs II and 62 on the panel ll. The independent operation of each one of the pair of multi-positioned selector cocks comprising the dual unit 24 or 25 will, thus, cooperate to provide the illustrated twelve operating positions. n the chart, in each space, the plug to the left represents plug A while the plug to to right represents plug B of Figure 8.

The knobs BI and U will, as we have seen, each selectively operate a monitoring means corrasponding generally to the monitoring means 88 of Figure 2. In the operation of a twelve-posi= tion unit, however, the monitoring means will have twelve spaced cams for operating a corresponding number of transfer switches. An actuating means generally similar to the actuat- -ing means I! of Figure 4 will be provided for each of the selector cocks comprising the dual unit. The transfer switches of the single monitoring means will be connected in series with one or more of the switches on the two actuating means for the individual selector cocks forming the dual unit to control the position of each individual selector cock In each of its several operating positions.

The booster pumps ll, I. ill and I associated with the fuel tanks I I, I6, II and II, respectively, serve, as previously explained, to introduce a pressure upon the fuel lines interconnecting the several selector cocks 23. 24, and 26 and the supply lines between said selector cocks and their respective engines I8, 20, II and 22. The pressure created upon the fuel in the several-conduits 3|, I2. 33 and It as well as the crossconduits II, II and 31 may be advantageously employed to advise the operator immediately and automatically of any failure or faulty operation of any of the connecting conduits. The pressure created in the several conduits by the booster pumps II to II, inclusive. remains constant in said conduit until a line is broken or clogged and thus fails to maintain the constant pressure. I

A plurality of pressure responsive switches I42. I, I and I are interposed in the conduits II, 32. I8 and 34 between their respective selector cock units 2I to N, inclusive, and the engines I! to 22, inclusive. Similar pressure responsive switches I, I" and III are supplied in the cross-connections 85, 36 and I1. respeci2 tively, between the several selector cocks It to II, inclusive. The several pressure responsive switches I42 to I. inclusive, may advantageously take any desired form but are preferably of the type which will be caused to remain open as long as the pressure is maintained on each of the several conduits in. which they are inter- I posed through the action. of the booster pumps 88 to 4 I, inclusive.

As soon as, for any reason, one of the conduits In which a pressure responsive switch may be interposed drops as by reason of the breaking of that particular conduit. the pressure switch associated therewith may be caused to close a circuit and to signal the operator. For instance. the operation of one of the switches may be employed to immediately close an electrical circuit to liight one of a number of tell-tale lights on the control panel 41 adjacent the particular channel outline on the flow diagram on the panel in which the pressure has dropped.

A different power source such, for example, as a battery iIIIa, or, if desired, the same power source (battery an) employed in energizing the electrical circuit for the operation of the monitoring means It and the actuating means 49 associated with each of the several selector cock units 23 to 26, inclusive, may be employed to energize the circuit for the pressure responsive switches its to I, inclusive, and the respective tell tale lights I49 to I55, inclusive. In any event, if the pressure falls, for example, in the conduit 8? between the selector 24 and its engine 20, the pressure responsive switch I therein is immediately closed and a circuit from the battery i300; is completed through the main conductor is?! and conductor M8 to pressure responsive switch I43, thence through said switch and conductor its to the tell-tale light m on the panel ti which is connected with a ground by the conductor I60. The operation of the pressure responsive switch M3, therefore, lightsthe telltale light I50 adjacent the channel outline 324 corresponding to the conduit 32 and immediately notifies the operator concerning this failure in pressure.

To aid in simplifying the pressure in any the task of the operator, it may be found advantageous to place certain symbols on the panel ll or on the tell-tale lights themselve which will immediately indicate to the operator the most advantageous position of the control knob associated with one or more of the channel outlines in the flow diagram for by-passing the faulty conduit to make the best possible use of the available fuel supply in the several tanks It, I6, I1 and I8 and to keep as many as possible of the engines. It, II, II and 2! operating. For example, the symbol A-|+ might be employed on or adjacent the telltale light In to indicate that, when this light is lighted, the conduit 32 may be cut off to give the most advantageous operation of the remaining elements of the fuel system by turning the knob SI to position 9. Th letter A indicates that any suitable setting of the other knobs ll, 52 or it which will cooperate with the position 9 of the knob II will be satisfactory. The plus sign following the digit 9 on the tell-tale light I" will Indicate that: there are other positions of the knob II and its associated disk II which will serve to cut off the conduit 32 and still provide an opportunity of employing all of the fuel in the tank It for the operation of tin 13 remaining engines. it, II and 22 which can be operated.

An of several additional features may advantageously be incorpoated in the panel 41 or the fluid control system. For example, it may be means to selectively operate the actuating means found to be desirable to install a signalling arrangement associated with each of the control knobs B to 53, inclusive, to indicate immediately when the selector cock unit associated therewith has reached the selected operating position. This could-readily be done by employing a set of additional contacts on the open side of the switches corresponding to the switches 01 to 9!, inclusive, of the actuating means 49 which will close a separate circuit for each position when the notch Y of cam disk D registers with the proper switch nib.

The structure of the present invention presents a highly advantageous fluid control system. The fluid flow is readily controllable by the operation of two single and two dual flow control units from four control means. The specific operating arrangement is achieved by a minimum of operating elements and interconnecting fluid con-'- -duits and is instantly discernible to the operator 'at all times.

It will be understood that additional units, such as auxiliary tanks or the like, may be em,- ployed and may, if desired, be incorporated in the control system. Such units have not been shown for the sake of simplicity but are clearly within the "spirit and scope of the invention. These auxiliary tanks may advantageously be hand controlled independently of the remainder of the units without in any way affecting the eiiiciency of the control system of the invention.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherthereon, manually controllable means for shifting the fluid flow control devices to open and close certain of the interconnecting means, and means associated with each manually controllable means and movable therewith and having fluid flow paths thereon adapted to register with the fluid flow paths on said chart means and complete the fluid flow paths on the chart means and show the exact flow path of fluid through each fluid flow control device and the interconnecting means associated with each fluid supply source and to each fluid operated device.

- 2. In a fluid control system having a plurality of fluid operated devices, a plurality of fluid supply sources, a plurality of fluid flow control devices, means i'or actuating each of said fluid flow control devices, and means interconnecting the fluid flow control devices, fluid supply sources and fluid operated devices, the improvements of chart means showing diagrammatically thereon each of the interconnecting means, manually operated for shifting the fluid flow control devices associated therewith to open and close certain of the interconnecting means, indicator means on each manually operated means and movable therewith and having fluid flow paths thereon indicating the passages of fluid through each fluid control device and, diagrammatically showing on the chart means the exact paths of fluid flow through each fluid flow control device with respect to the interconnecting means associated with each fluid supply source and each fluid operated device, and signalling means on the chart means and connected with certain of the interconnecting means to identify on the chart means a loss of pressure and failure in any of the interconnecting means having said signalling means connected therewith.

3. In a fuel system for an airplane or the like for handling the supply of fuel from a plurality of tanks to-a plurality of engines, fluid control means comprising a plurality of multi-position selector cocks, means for actuating each of said selector cocks, conduit interconnecting the selector cooks, the fuel tanks and the engines, a

panel having a flow diagram thereon diagrammatically charting each of the several conduits, manually operated means to selectively operate the actuating means for shifting the selector cocks to open certain of the conduits to the flow of fuel therethrough, and a dial mounted on and movable with each manually operated means and having flow paths thereon corresponding to the flow of fluid through each selector cock and cooperating with the flow diagram on the panel to indicate on the flow diagram thereon the flow path of fluid through the several selector cocks with respect to the conduits interconnecting the fuel tanks with the engines as selectively operated by the manually operated means. 4. In a fuel system for an airplane or the like, for handling the supply of fuel from a plurality of tanks to a plurality of engines, fluid control means comprising a plurality of multi-position selector cocks, means for actuating each of said selector cocks, conduits interconnecting the selector cooks, the fuel tanks and the engines, a

.panel having a flow diagram thereon diagrammatically charting each of the several conduits.

manually operated means to operate the actuat' ing means or shifting the selector cocks to open certain of the conduits to the flow of fuel therethrough, a dial mounted on and movable with each manually operated means and having flow paths indicated thereon corresponding to the flow path of fluid through the associated selector cock and cooperating with a flow diagram on the panel to diagrammatically indicate on the flow diagram thereon the flow path of fluid through the several selector cocks with respect to the conduits interconnecting the fuel tanks with the engines as selectively operated by the manually operated means, and signalling means on said panel and 7 selector cocks to open certain of the conduits to a flow oi. iuel therethrough. a dial connected with each manually operated means and having now path indicia thereon corresponding to the flow paths in the movable element of the respective selector cock, said dial moving with said manually operated means and cooperating with the panel to diagrammatically indicate on the flow diagram the flow paths of fluid through the several selector cocks with respect to the conduits as selectively determined by the manually operated means, and pressure responsive signalling means connected in certain of the conduits and signal transferring means from said pressure responsive means to said chart means to identity on the flow diagram any part of the system in which a failure occurs.

6. In a fluid control system having a plurality oi fluid operated devices, a plurality of fluid supply sources, a plurality of multi-position plural way selector cocks, means for actuating each of said selector cocks, and a plurality of conduits interconnecting the several positions of said selector cocks and the fluid supply sources with the fluid operated devices, the improvements of flow diagram means visibly diagrammatically charting each of the several interconnecting conduits and the paths of the flow oi fluid therethrough, manually operated means for shifting the actuating means to selectively operate the selector cocks to open certain of the conduits to the flow of fluid therethrough, and visible indicia mounted on and movable with each manually operated means and andfluid operated devices as governed by the -manually operated means.

"I. Ina fuel system for an airplane or the like,

fluid control means comprising a plurality of 'shifta'ble, multi-position plural way selector cocks, means for actuating each of said selector cocks, a plurality of conduits interconnecting said selector cocks in their several operative positions and connecting said selector cocks in the fuel system, a panel having a flow diagram thereon diagrammatically charting each of the'several conduits, manually operative means to selectively operate the actuating means for shifting the selector cocks to open certain of the conduits to the'flow of fuel therethrough, and a dial connected with each manually operated means and having flow path indicia thereon corresponding to the flow paths provided in the movable elements in the respective selector cocks. said dial moving with said manually operative means and cooperating with the flow path indicia upon said panel to complete the flow diagram and show the flow paths of fluid through the several selector cocks and conduits as selectively determined by the manually operated means.

8. In a fluid control system, a plurality of conduits for carrying fluid through the system, a plurality of plural way valves connected with said conduits, means selectively operable to position said valves to provide flow paths of fluid through said conduits and valves, including manually operated primary control means for each valve, a power operated means energized by each primary control means and connected with each valve,

- for selectively operating said valves and moving them into positions to selectively vary the how paths 0! fluid through said valves and conduits. in accordance with the selective-adjustment of said primary control means. a flow diagram charting the flow paths of fluid through the several conduits, movable indicia indicating the flow paths of fluid through the several valves cooperating with the charted flow paths oi fluid through the several conduits and movable with the primary control means to disclose at all times on the flow diagram the fluid flow paths of fluid through the several valves and conduits. fluid pressure responsive means in certain oi the conduits, and signaling means on said flow diagram cooperating with the charted flow paths of fluid through the several conduits and coacting with the pressure responsive means in said conduits to identity on said flow diagram, by the operation oi the appropriate signalling means, any conduits which cease to function properly by lack 0! pressure therein.

9. In a fuel system having a plurality of supply tanks, a plurality of engines, conduits interconmeeting the tanks and engines, pressure means connected with the several conduits for subjecting the fluid in the several conduits to pressure, and plural way valve means in said conduits, the improvements of a control mechanism for each valve means for selectively varying the operating relationship of the several tanks. conduits and engines by shifting the valve means, a panel including a flow diagram charting the flow paths of fluid through the several conduits, and movable indicia movable in accordance with movement of said control mechanisms and charting the paths of fluid flow through the valve means and cooperating with the flow diagram for visually diagrammatically disclosing the paths 0! fluid flow between the several tanks, engines and conduits at any given time for each setting of the control mechanisms, pressure responsive means in certain of the conduits actuated by the variations in the fluid pressure therein induced by the pressure means, an electrical circuit associated with each pressure responsive means, and signal means on the panel and diagram c0- operating with the paths of fluid flow on said diagram and operated by the pressure responsive means and identifying on the diagram any conduits in the system which do not function properly by lack of pressure therein.

10. In combination, a plurality of fluid flow conduits, a plurality of plural way valves connected with said conduits and selectively movable into a plurality of selective positions to 0011-,

nect said conduits for the flow of fluid therethrough in a plurality of paths, an actuator for each valve having a plurality of positions corresponding to the different positions of the associated valve, a control panel. movable control means for said actuators on said panel having a plurality of operative positions corresponding to the operative positions of the associated actuators, conduit simulating indicia on said panel indicating the paths of fluid flow through said conduits, and valve simulating indicia on said panel movable with said control means and indicating the paths of fluid flow through the respective valves and cooperating with said conduit simulating indicia and registering therewith in the various operative positions of said movable control means and valves to show the exact flow patterns through said valves and conduits.

11. In combination, a plurality of fluid flow conduits, a plurality of plural way valves connected with said conduits and selectively movable 17 into a plurality of selective positions to connect said conduits in various relationships with respect to each other through said valves, for the flow oi fluid therethrough, an actuator for each valve having a plurality of operative positions corresponding to the diflerent operative positions in the associated valve. a control panel remote from said valves and actuators, manualw operable movable control means for said actuators on said panel having a plurality of operative positions corresponding to the operative positions 01 said actuators, conduit simulating indicia on said panel indicating the flow paths of fluid through said conduits, and valve simulating indicia movable with said control means and indicating the flow paths of fluid through said valves and conduits for the various operative positions thereof and cooperating with said conduit simulating indicia to register with and show the exact flow patterns of fluid through said conduits corresponding to the specific operating relationship between the several valves and conduits.

12. In a fluid control system having a plurality of fluid flow control devices each including a plural-way valve element selectively movable into a plurality of operative positions, power means associated with each of said valve elements for selectively positioning said valve elements into their selective operative positions, and a plurality of conduits connected with said valve elements in their several operative positions, the improvements of chart means diagrammatically representing said conduits, manually operable means to selectively actuate said power actuating means and eflect shifting of selective of the valve elements into the desired operative positions to open and close the fluid flow paths through certain oi said valves and conduits, indicator means on each valve operating means and moved thereby upon movement thereof and having fluid flow paths through said valves charted thereon and cooperating with and diagrammatically showing on the chart means the fluid flow paths established through said conduits in the various operative positions of said valve elements, and pressure responsive signaling means on said chart means and operatively connected with said conduits, to identity on the chart means any conduit whereinalossinpressureandaresultantiailureoccurs.

13. In combination, a plurality of fluid flow conduits, a multi-position valve controlling the flow of fluid therethrough in a plurality of paths and including a valve element positionable into a plurality of operative positions to produce dif= ierent flow paths through said conduits in each of the positions of said valve element, power means operatively connected with said valve element to move it into desired positions of adjustment, monitoring means positionable to actuate said power means to move into different selected positions so as to move said valve element into its various operative positions, a hand grip operable to position said monitoring means to select the desired position or said valve element, an adjustable flow diagram associated with said monitoring means including a flow diagram having indicia thereon representing the paths of fluid flow through said conduits to said valve, and also including a disk mounted for movement with said hand grip and having flow paths thereon representing the paths of the flow of fluid through said valve element and movable with said hand grip and valve element to complete the paths oi fluid flow through said conduits represented on said diagram for the various operative.

positions of said valve element.

KARL B. BRITTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,266,627 Renme May 21, 1918 1,303,290 Gibbs May 13, 1919 1,329,997 Page Feb. 3, 1920 1,356,598 Cahill Oct. 26, 1920 1,408,611 Lerner Mar. 7, 1922 1,897,303 Da Silva Feb. 14, 1933 1,976,445 Jurs Oct. 9, 1934 1,988,841 Hayward Jan. 22, 1935 2,057,834 Jurs Oct. 20, 1936 2,140,667 Corsepius Dec. 20, 1938 2,250,453 Appel July 29, 1941 2,268,957 Muselier Jan. 6. 1942 2,327,373 Samiran Aug. 24, 1943' 2,329,661 Smith Sept. 14, 1943 2,341,538 Grant Feb. 15, 1944 

